Happenings in and about one of Indiana's most outstanding historic suburban neighborhoods

Dirt Day or Emerald Ash Borer treatment?

The Association wants your input! We’re conducting a survey and would like your input by April 15.

Every year, Historic Southwood Park purchases tri-mix soil for our annual Dirt Day. This soil is suitable for gardens, pots and yards. The soil is delivered to three places in the neighborhood before Mother’s Day for residents to use as they see fit. We normally spend about $800.

Meanwhile, the neighborhood is facing an ash tree crisis. Hundreds of ash street trees are being killed by the emerald ash borer. There are 290 ash street trees in Historic Southwood Park. The City of Fort Wayne can commit to chemically treating 56. Of the untreated 234, some could be saved. To purchase four gallons, which would treat roughly 100 trees, costs about $800.

So, here’s the question:

Of the money normally spent on Dirt Day, how much should be diverted to treating ash trees?